Trump supports Israel keeping additional $75 million in aid

The Trump administration supports allowing Israel to keep an additional $75 million in aid, in contradiction to earlier reports to the contrary.

In September 2016, Israel signed a memorandum of understanding, according to which the US, under the Obama administration, pledged $38 billion in military aid over the next 10 years (2019-2028) and Israel promised to no longer seek additional funds from Congress.

Notwithstanding the terms of the MOU, Congress allocated to Israel an additional $75 million.

According to the Washington Free Beacon, the State Department, led by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, wants to force Israel to return the $75 million in aid.

Previous articles by the Beacon have described the situation as “open war” between the State Department and the Trump administration “on a range of key issues, including the U.S.-Israel relationship, the Iran portfolio, and other matters.”

Reports that followed the Beacon story, however, say the opposite is true. The Jerusalem Post, for instance, says it has learned that “the Trump administration will support Congress’s effort to provide Israel with more aid than was guaranteed in a formal defense package.”

A senior State Department official, according to the Post, said the Beacon report was incorrect, explaining that “the administration is committed to ensuring that Israel receives the assistance that has been appropriated by Congress” as well as doing its best to make certain that the $75 million in additional aid is delivered.

“Israel is a valued ally. The Administration is committed to ensuring that Israel receives the assistance that has been appropriated by Congress,” an official told Arutz-7, adding that the Beacon report was erroneous.